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The Impact of Microfinance Interventions: A Meta-analysis

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  • Sefa K. Awaworyi

Abstract

The evidence base on the impact of microfinance interventions is quite large and is accompanied by a high level of heterogeneity making it difficult to draw a general conclusion on the effects of microfinance. Based on 1,111 extracted estimates of microfinance's effects from 31 individual studies, we address this challenge using meta-analysis tools to synthesize the evidence on the impact of microfinance on poverty, empowerment, microenterprises, education and health. After controlling for within and between-study dependence and publication selection bias, precision effect and funnel asymmetry test (PET/FAT) results indicate that microfinance generally has a positive effect on indicators like assets, income, women's status, education and consumption/expenditure. On the other hand, after controlling for moderating variables, multivariate meta-regression analysis (MRA) results report a marginal adverse effect of microfinance on poverty measured by assets, income and consumption/expenditure, but a moderate positive effect on microenterprises is observed. MRA results also support the evidence presented by the PET/FAT analysis for microfinance and empowerment after controlling for moderating variables; however, adverse effects are observed for education and health.

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  • Sefa K. Awaworyi, 2014. "The Impact of Microfinance Interventions: A Meta-analysis," Monash Economics Working Papers 03-14, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mos:moswps:2014-03
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    2. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell, 2017. "Ethnic Diversity and Poverty," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 285-302.
    3. Hermes, Cornelis & Hudon, M., 2018. "Determinants of the Performance of Microfinance Institutions: A Systematic Review," Research Report 2018008, University of Groningen, Research Institute SOM (Systems, Organisations and Management).

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